Abstract

The number of patients treated surgically for post-traumatic extraaxial cerebral haematoma is growing every year, thus becoming a significant therapeutic problem. The main aim of the study is to describe changes in functional status, progress in the resolution of neurological deficits and changes in the level of consciousness of patients receiving comprehensive rehabilitation after surgery for a post-traumatic extraaxial cerebral haematoma and to determine differences and similarities in the rate of recovery of these functions. The study involved a group of 43 patients receiving operative treatment of post-traumatic extraaxial cerebral haematoma. The International Muscle Paresis Scale, the Modified Barthel Scale and the Rankin Scale were used to evaluate the severity of the neurological deficit and disability, while the Glasgow Coma Scale was used to assess patients’ level of consciousness. These were standardised in order to allow comparison of the temporal pattern of change and a comprehensive evaluation of the functions under examination. The patients receiving physiotherapy after surgery for post-traumatic extraaxial cerebral haematoma demonstrated significant improvements in all functions under investigation. The quickest recovery was observed in functional performance and the ability to perform activities of daily living. Recovery of the level of consciousness was much slower and pareses resolved the most slowly. 1. Surgery and early post-operative rehabilitation lead to effective functional recovery but the rate of recovery of individual functions may vary. 2. Early rehabilitation of patients after extraaxial cerebral haematoma evacuation increases the possibility of the development of compensatory mechanisms and contributes to positive outcomes of rehabilitation.

Key words:

Craniocerebral Trauma, post-traumatic extraaxial cerebral haematoma, post-operative physiotherapy